I have been experimenting with vintage lenses for some time now. The problem is always to find a way to adapt those exotic mounts to our modern cameras and to provide some back and forth movement to allow focusing. Here is my latest contraption for this purpose. It is basically an iris lens holder (also called universal diaphragm lens holder) mounted in front of a Russian PZF bellows:

The iris lens holder is able to accommodate any lens in any mount up to a diameter of 56mm (there are bigger holders with a capacity of 78mm, but they won't fit on a macro bellows). The diaphragm opening destined to hold the lens mount is controlled with the help of two knobs. The one on the right is to adjust the diameter and the one on the left is to lock the opening once the correct diameter has been selected:

Here it is holding an old 58/2.4 Takumar lens:

With a lens designed for a 35mm camera, it is not possible to focus to infinity, because the lens is too far from the image plane. The only exceptions would be the Leica lenses designed to be used on the Visoflex. Of course, I won't use this device for small format lenses, but to mount all those lenses from the old 6.5x9cm, 9x12cm, 4x5in., 5x7in. or 8x10 in. cameras, either barrel lenses designed to be used on view cameras or lenses in shutter usually found on folding cameras. As for the bellows' maximum extension, at 300mm it should prove enough for most lenses:

Wow, that's great! I would love to have such a thing.
I am really looking forward to seeing your results..._________________Personal forum activity on pause every now and again (due to job obligations)!

I am not sure to understand how you do secure lenses with different mounts onto this iris lens holder.

First, the iris diaphragm is opened wide by turning clockwise the knob on the right of the lens holder. Then the lens is inserted into the diaphragm opening, the diameter of the diaphragm is reduced by turning the knob on the right until the lens is held tightly enough and the diaphragm is locked in position by turning clockwise the knob on the left. The grip is sufficient to hold a few hundred grams, but I wouldn't try to mount a 5 kilograms super telephoto lens without adequate support.

First, the iris diaphragm is opened wide by turning clockwise the knob on the right of the lens holder. Then the lens is inserted into the diaphragm opening, the diameter of the diaphragm is reduced by turning the knob on the right until the lens is held tightly enough and the diaphragm is locked in position by turning clockwise the knob on the left. The grip is sufficient to hold a few hundred grams, but I wouldn't try to mount a 5 kilograms super telephoto lens without adequate support.

Interesting!
Where did you find this tool and what keywords should I use to find one on Ebay?_________________Orio, AdministratorT*NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO

Interesting!
Where did you find this tool and what keywords should I use to find one on Ebay?

Orio, the most common name seems to be "universal iris lens holder". But you may have to look for "iris holder," "diaphragm holder," "lens clamp," "iris clamp mount," "universal lens clamp," "lens chuck," or any combination of the aforementioned words you can think of. The problem is that many sellers on eBay don't know what they sell, so these things are often offered as "non working shutters"

Bumping this ancient topic because I found it interesting. The link Abbazz gives for the source of these clamps is still live and alas nearly 7 years later he is still out of stock. Does anyone know of similar?_________________Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official.

I have occasionally spotted them on ebay.
They seem to quickly attract attention and they go for more than I have wanted to pay - $100+
Its more of a convenience than a necessity though, as there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Alternatives that works pretty well on standard bellows for the DIY person is a combo of drilled plastic body caps as "lens boards", T-mounts with inner rings removed +drilled and tapped screw holes for longer screws, M42 extension tubes (for press fit of barrel lenses, and, the king of all workaround systems, the mighty 1950's Multiscope bellows -

This thing takes proper lensboards and "camera boards". Of course one would have to make these, but wooden/fiberboard/plastic ones are quite easy to make. The camera side could be made from a body cap+short extension tube I would think._________________I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work.

I've been after one of these for a while, but the one that appeared on ebay on a Sinar board last week went for a pretty penny.

I want it to put on a board for my 5x7 camera as I have loads of barrel lenses and I don't have flanges for all of them._________________I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it!

That's a great idea!
I'm having my M42 bellows > M4/3 adaptor done. I asked one man to machine me a special piece to bring front plane (with lens) closer to Lumix G2. I'm also planning to change bellows material a bit to get even closer and result in universal lens holder with easy zooming
If I succeeded I'd show you! Thanks for a tip!_________________Samples and subjective tests of manual lenses here:
LensCraze.blogspot.com

That's a great idea!
I'm having my M42 bellows > M4/3 adaptor done. I asked one man to machine me a special piece to bring front plane (with lens) closer to Lumix G2. .... Thanks for a tip!

I achieved the same result for my NEX by using a 49mm reversing ring and the m42 threaded ring from a T-mount glued inside it. Its a perfect fit and probably cheaper if anyone else wants to do it. heres my macro setup with M42 bellows

_________________Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official.

I totally agree, but posts do have a habit of going off topic once in a while.

I bumped it to see if anyone has an idea where I may get one of these adapters or to see if an alternative was available_________________Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official.

Funny enough I have or had one of those sturdy and heavy universal diaphragm holders, as I always wanted to make a similar contraption that was shown above - just never made it to that...._________________Klaus - Admin